Santa Rosa County District Schools Superintendent Dr. Karen Barber was honored with the prestigious North Star Award at the Scouting America Gulf Coast Outstanding Citizens Luncheon Nov. 5.
Deputy Tony Jordan has 31 years of service under his belt, and he’s using his experience to better connect with the children he works with at Thomas L. Sims Middle School as a school resource officer. Jordan recently began his “Lunch with a Deputy” program, where a student is selected to sit, talk and eat lunch with the SRO.
Twenty schools won Florida Power and Light’s $50,000 STEM Classroom Makeover Grant for the 2024-2025 school year, and Avalon Middle School was one of them. As a result, Theresa Yankovoy, who teaches STEM and sixth-grade social studies at Avalon, got a classroom makeover and new gadgets.
Jennifer Schmitt is the new principal of Navarre High School.
The current Navarre High assistant principal will take over as head of the school Jan. 5, 2026, when Kasie Windfelder leaves for the same position at Soundside High School.
Milton High School played host to the Blackwater Classic Marching Band Festival Saturday, Oct. 4.
2025 marked the eighth year of the festival, which featured bands from as far away as Jackson County.
Santa Rosa Education Foundation is pleased to announce the thirty-seven nominees for Santa Rosa Teacher of the Year. Nominees were selected by their peers at schools throughout the district.
The University of West Florida earned its highest position to date the U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best College rankings. It placed No. 6 among other Top Public Schools in the Regional South. With this, UWF spends a fourth consecutive year among the top 10 public institutions in the region.
The legal case against Kelly Short, the former educator and administrator who resigned from Santa Rosa County District Schools following an investigation into alleged mishandling and stealing of district funds, remains ongoing.
